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Patented Mar. l4, I899. E. c. SMITH.

CARD FILE.

(Application filed Aug. 8, 1898.)

(lo Modem l lll' Witneaow 1 Nrrsn 7 Starts PATENT Fries.

CARD-FILE.-

SPECIFIOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,165, dated March 14, 1899.

Application filed August 8, 1898. Serial No. 688,067. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN 0. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Card-Files, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices for securing perforated index or memorandum cards in file-boxes, having for its object to provide simple and effective means whereby such cards may be easily and quickly removed from a file-box and replaced and secured therein in the proper place with equal facility.

With this object in View the invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts hereinafter more particularly described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like letters and numerals of reference designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a 1ongitudinal vertical sectional view of a file-box em bodying the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the locking means; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the locking devices detached, parts being broken away.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, A designates a file-box, which may be of any suitable construction and of any desired dimensions. Preferably, however, the box is formed in its bottom centrally of the width thereof with a shallow longitudinal groove 2, provided at separated points along its length with a series of notches or openings 3. Adaptedto slidelongitudinallywithinthe box is a card follower-block 4, secured to the bottom of which is a plate 5, having a projection or lug 6 upon its lower face, the said plate being adapted to fit within the groove 2 and its projection being adapted to engage the notches or openings 3 of the said groove to hold the block 4 in any position to which it is adjusted.

The file-box A is adapted to receive intermediate its forward end and the follower 4 a series of cards B, upon which may be written or printed any suitable inscription or memorandum, or they may be blank, and the said cards are provided near their lower edges with perforations 7 for the reception of a securingrod 8, the perforations of each of the cards alining with those of the next succeeding card.

In the front end of the box A, in alinement with the perforations of the cards 13, is an opening 9,-into which is received a casing 10, formed integral with or secured to a plate 12, which is in turn secured to the outer front face of the file-box. The plate 12 may be of any suitable size or design; but preferably it is in the form of an escutcheon-plate having a recess 13 formed in its rear face for reception of a label or card 14 and an opening 15 formed in its front face, through which the inscription upon the card may be visually observed.

Extending through the plate 12, in alinement with the chamber of the casing 10, is an opening 16, preferably circular in contour and having formed in its edge, at diametrically opposite points, slots 17. In the rear face of the plate 12, contiguous to the edge of the opening 16 and likewise arranged at diametrically opposite points, are recesses 18, the purpose of which will presently appear.

Within the chamber of the casing 10 and free to move longitudinally therein is a bearing-plate 19, which is normally pressed outward into contact with the rear face of the plate 12 by means of a spring 20, interposed between the said plate and the end of the casing 10. The end of the casing 10 is formed centrally with an opening, as is likewise the bearing-plate, and these openings aline with each other and with the opening 16 of the plate 12.

Adapted to extend through the openings in the plates 12 and 19, casing 10, cards B, and an alining opening in the follower 4 is a securing-rod 8, formed at its forward end with a knob or handle 23 and adjacent to said knob with an enlargement 24, adapted to enter and closely conform to the opening 16 of the plate 12. Formed at diametrically opposite points upon the periphery of the enlargement 24 are lugs 25, adapted to enter the slots 17 and en gage the bearing-plate 19, when the enlarge ment of the rod 8 is inserted into the open ing 16. WVhen the said enlargement is so insorted and pressure upon the knob 23 toward the rear of the file-box is exerted, the bearing-plate 19 is forced back against the stress of the spring 20 and the lugs 25 carried entirely through the slots 17; If now the knob- 23 be given a partial rotation in either direction, the lugs 25 will be brought into alinement with the recesses 18 and through the pressure of the spring 20 against the bearingplate 19 be forced into said recesses, thereby securely locking the knob and its attached securing-rod against both rotation and outward movement. hen the parts are thus adjusted in their locked positions, it will be obvious that the knob 23 may be utilized for removing or replacing the file-box A in its case. Whenever it is desired to remove a card from the file-box, it is only necessary to press the knob 23 toward the plate 12 until the lugs 25 are carried out of engagement with the recesses 18 in the rear face of the plate, then impart a partial rotation to the knob in either direction until the lugs are brought into alinement with the slots 17, when the spring-pressed bearing-plate 19 will force the enlargement and lugs outwardly, thereby releasing the securing-rod and permitting it to be withdrawn from the perforations of the index-cards.

It will be obvious from the above that a simple and effective securing means for index-cards is provided, by the use of which such cards may be quickly inserted and secured in their proper places in a file-box or released and removed therefrom, and it will be obvious also that all possibility of the securing-rod becoming accidentally unlocked is precluded.

Without limiting myself to the precise con struction and arrangement of the parts shown and described, since it will be obvious that various changes in such construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention,

hat I claim is- 1. In securing devices for index or memorandum cards, the combination with a filebox, of a securing-rod extending longitudinally therethrough and provided with lugs or engaging portions, a plate connected to the file-box having an opening through which the securing-rod extends and provided in its rear face with recesses adapted to receive the lugs of said rod, a casing projecting from the rear face of the plate and through which the rod likewise extends, a bearing-plate upon the rod within the casing, and a spring, interposed between thebearing-plate and end of the easing, substantially as described.

2. In securing devices for index or memorandum cards, the combination with a filebox, of a plate secured thereto formed with an opening with one or more slots leading therefrom and having one or more recesses in its rear face, a casing projecting from the plate into an opening in the box, and a securing-rod adapted to pass through the opening of the plate and extend longitudinally th rough the box, said rod being provided with one or more lugs adapted to pass through the slots of the plate and to engage with the recesses thereof, and a spring within the casing surrounding the rod and adapted to force the rod longitudinally to carry its lugs through the slots of the plate or into engagement with the recesses thereof, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a file-box formed with an opening, of a plate secured to the front of the box formed with an opening of irregular contour, a casing extending from the plate through the opening of the box, asecuring-rod adapted to extend longitudinally through the casing and file-box having an enlargement of irregular contour adapted to pass through the opening of the plate and to engage the rear face thereof, a bearing-plate upon the rod, and a spring interposed between the bearing-plate and the end of the casing, adapted to maintain the enlarged portion of the securing-rod in contact with the inner face of the plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDVIN C. SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

CLIFFORD S. TO ER, WILLARD J. ALLEN. 

